Kathmandu, September 2
Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal (DP) has delivered a special address at a meeting of the House of Representatives, drawing the government’s attention to the need to ensure the safety and protection of women and children affected by the devastating Bhotekoshi floods.
The floods, which struck on August 26, caused extensive human and physical losses in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha, Tanahun and Chitwan districts.
Addressing the House on the disaster, Speaker Aryal urged the government to ensure the safety of women and children.
“I draw the serious attention of the government and concerned agencies to ensuring the safety and protection of women and children, as well as easy access to essential services, while remaining sensitive to the mental health and psychosocial well-being of citizens affected by the disaster,” Aryal said. Aryal recalled that the impacts of climate change have been a subject of continuous discussion for the past several decades.
“Temperatures are rising in the Himalayan region due to climate change, while glaciers and glacial lakes are undergoing changes,” he said. “The risk of avalanches is increasing, and incidents of unusual rainfall are also becoming more frequent.” He noted that Rasuwa had experienced several small and large-scale disasters in previous years as well.
Aryal said Nepal needs to firmly establish its concerns at the international level regarding national security challenges created by climate change. “Therefore, Nepal needs to raise its voice more clearly and strongly in the international debate on loss and damage caused by climate change,” he said. “I also draw the attention of the Government of Nepal to this issue.”
The Rasuwa disaster has also taught the country another important lesson, Aryal said. “We must now build a culture of preparedness, rather than focusing solely on post-disaster management,” he said. “Regular study and monitoring of glacial lakes and glaciers must be given priority.”
The Speaker also directed the government to maintain solidarity during this period of national mourning and mobilise all three tiers of government, political parties, civil society and all state mechanisms for search and rescue operations, the rehabilitation of displaced people and proper treatment of the injured.
Aryal said Nepal is highly vulnerable to both natural and human-induced disasters. “Nepal’s geographical diversity, fragile geological structure, unplanned and risky development, weak infrastructure, limited resources and climate change have caused various types of disasters to recur frequently,” he said.
He also noted that the government had mobilised security forces for rescue and relief operations for people affected by the latest disaster. On behalf of the House of Representatives, Aryal expressed gratitude to the Nepali Army, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force Nepal, government agencies, provincial and local governments, health workers, the Red Cross, volunteers, journalists, local communities and rescue workers involved in search, rescue, treatment, relief and humanitarian services.
He also expressed appreciation for the technical personnel, relief assistance, support and solidarity provided by friendly countries and the international community.
